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Wednesday, December 1, 2010

What Does "Black Tie" Mean Today?

Ah, a sewing dream fulfilled! I've been invited to a Black Tie event. Here are the crucial deets: it is a gala which will take place at MoMA, and there will be a cocktail hour, dinner, and various speeches and presentations. No dancing. (Drat!)

The trouble is, now that I have this event to sew for, I feel absolutely paralyzed by the idea of Black Tie. What the heck does it mean today, anyway? I've read that, for women, it can vary from short cocktail dresses all the way to long ballgowns and furs. I have a tendency to be overdressed generally, and I don't usually mind. But the idea of being in a ballgown while everyone else is wearing LBDs is slightly horrifying.

Also: what to sew? There is an evening gown included in Vogue's New Book for Better Sewing, and this really seems like the perfect time to bust out that pattern. But there's a niggling little problem: I don't particularly love the design. I'd always imagined myself making it and then just flouncing about the apartment in it. Not at a gala event at MoMA. Here's the envelope illustration, which is fine, if a little "Glinda the Good Witch."

The photo definitely verges on dowdy.

If you follow me on Twitter (yes, that was a shameless plug to get you to follow me on Twitter), you'll know I've been brainstorming ways to spice it up a little bit. Black and white houndstooth? With a fuchsia underskirt? Perhaps awesome, perhaps too much.

So anyway, I'm facing great dilemmas and I know you're an opinionated bunch. (That's why I love you!) Make the VoNBBS pattern for this event or not? Go full ball gown or just cocktail dress? Lay it on me!

103 comments:

Haha I actually like the picture much better than the drawing. If its a gala, it means a longer dress although by todays standards it could mean cocktail attire. I'm like you gertie, I'd rather be over dress than under. Your lace dress would be perfect for this event! If you don't love the pattern of the dress than why bother wasting your time on it.

I know how it feels overdressed - I am mostly and I dont mind. BUT. Normaly the people around me don´t even try to dress up except for me. So if you go to an event where the others try but don`t get any father than black cocktail dresses or things like that you propably will feel strange in a long dress. Otherwise I see the seduction, there are not much chances to sew and wear a dress linke that. But what is about your new lace dress? That could match perfectly, doesn´t it?

I think it would look great without the lower collar, so just the one collar piece. Then maybe make it tea length or knee length in some lovely fabric and you'd fit in whether there where LBD's or ballgowns.

I remember you talked about this dress in the first months of your blog : there was a talk about Hepburn's Sabrina dress and how you could make it in an black embroidered ivory muslin and ivory crepe (I found the idea lovely).

If you only made the matching top collar and wore it knee-length, I don't think it would be too much!

Do a vintage ballgown, how often are you going to have thd chance? I just don’t the that vintage ball gown is going to be as flattering or fabalous as another selection that will better flatter the bustline

I think you should go for it! This is the best chance you will get. Some will be more dressy than others. So what if you are on the dressier end? Also, don't sew Glenda the Good Witch. Sew something you'll love and be thrilled to wear. Since this event is at the MoMA, surely it's OK to be a little individual and artsy.

Black tie events are so much fun! At least from the dressing up standpoint. ;) While you could go with a cocktail dress (like that red lace beauty you're making!), it'll be extra special to have a longer evening/ball gown. (But that's just my opinion, of course! ;) I like the idea of the dress, but I think what is bothering me is the collar. It just seems too darn big and floppy, and a little 1980s (even though it's a 50s pattern. Funny how certain elements--no matter what era--remind you of a specific decade!). I like the idea you have for modernizing it with some funky fabric choices--especially since the event is at MoMA. But I'd be tempted to play around with the collar/proportions a bit before committing... Just my $0.02 though! ;)

Without knowing exactly what the event is about (it does make a difference to this Southern gal--different events call for different Black Tie),I'm still not in love with this dress. What about other vintage Vogue patterns? Do you have the time to find them?

I hate to be a naysayer, but I agree with Amanda - just say no to the dress. I think there are other styles that will be much more flattering (and from the looks of the dress on the model, less aging) on you.

I went to a black tie gala a few weeks back. I was amazed that I was nearly the only one wearing color. It was a veritable sea of black! So if you really want to stand out at MoMA, why don't you wear the red lace? It would look perfect there.

I agree with the others who say go for the full ball gown. Even if you start getting invited to more of them in the (near) future, they're unlikely to be every week, n'est pas?

I look forward to the Toronto Garrison Ball each year now as my excuse to make an extravagant evening/ball gown. There are some women who attend in cocktail dresses, but they sure don't get the compliments I do! If we go this year, I'm planning on making a very vintage style with a full, floor-length skirt.

Oh, the possibilities! After googling "MoMA gala photos" it is obvious that many women just don't understand what Black Tie means. My guess is that you would be in the minority in a ball gown, but not out of place. The red lace dress would be perfect, but I'd love to see you sew something spectacularly dramatic - how often does one get the opportunity to flounce glamorously in public?

I say GO FOR IT you'll look amazing it will defo be another "who are you wearing" moment and we all know it feel so good to say well it's something I whipped up!! the hounds tooth brings it up to date.... spice up the fabric and there will be no dowdy in sight!!!

I think you should distinguish between a "ball gown" -- for going to a ball and dancing in --, and a black tie "dinner dress" --which would still be full length, but wouldn't have that swishy skirt so fun to swoop around in.If you want to go vintage, why not look at some of the 1930's evening dresses?

Traditionally, black tie means long dress. I know women wear short dresses to black tie events these days, but IMHO, if short dresses were what the organizers wanted, they would have said "cocktail attire." Anyway, though I DO think you should make that Vogue dress someday, you should wear something you absolutely love to your first and long-awaited black tie event. Why settle?

Full length gathered skirt? I vote no, unless you're going to prom or a ball. Why not a full length dress with a sleek silhouette? Something that flatters curves and and can still be dramatic without being over-the-top.

I say go for it-if not that long dress, then another but a vintage one. And even if a lot of the women are wearing short dresses, it's not like you'd be the ONLY one in a long dress. Dress up and show all the LBD's how it's done!

Black tie still means floor length to me! Black tie in my book only includes shorter dresses if a) the invite reads 'black tie optional' and b) you don't own a floor length dress and afford to buy--or sew--one!

I went to a college that is stuck in a time warp. They had an annual white-tie event. Seems white-tie is more formal than black-tie, with full ball gowns, set waltzs, dancecards, cumberbunds, and even the ocassional tiara. Black-tie, at least over here in Western Europe, seems to be stylish and elaborate dresses, but not all out. There could well be people wearing LBDs, but they'll be somewhat underdressed. You have more freedom to express your own style at black-tie events. I hope you enjoy your night! (Personally I find having to be that well behaved rather tiring.)

I recently got to go to my first black-tie-optional Gala, and went in floor length flaired navy satin. I was not overdressed, although there were a lot of cocktail dresses too. Bright colours and very full gathered skirts are another step up - but you rock some pretty formal stuff in the office, why get all concerned about overdressing at a Gala? That's what Galas are for!!

But I agree that MoMA sounds like the kind of occasion that you can be daring at so I'd be tempted to do something funky. I'm not the person to ask for off-the-wall ideas though!

Lose the collar go for the vogue dress. Make a modern version. When else would you every be able to wear it? What if you made it tea length? tea length houndstooth dress! If Heidi Klum wore that polka dot full length dress Mondo made, I say you can rock some houndstooth.

I definitely think you should go for a full-on ball gown for the Gala. There aren't many chances to wear a true gown, and you should totally take advantage of it! Plus, I think it's a bit of a shame that cocktail dresses are enough for black tie nowadays-- aren't they meant for cocktail parties? ;-) And you're a trendsetter, so (re)set a trend :) I can't wait to see what you sew!!~natalie

The bodice of the Vogue pattern isn't all that bad. It's a variation on a shawl collar. I would put a narrower skirt on it, or a narrow skirt and some kind of overskirt or peplum. I also think that this is a dress that would translate better in a fancier fabric. Either silk, lace, or play with the textuers of both sides of a crepe back satin.

Wow, thanks for all the great feedback, everyone! I should have mentioned that the event in question is for my husband's company and it will be celebrating the best digital advertising campaigns of the decade. It's not an annusal event, so I can't really go off what people have worn before. I love your advice! Keep it comin'!

Yes go for it (if that's what you want, of course!). I think this gala event at the MoMa is a great opportunity to go all out, how often do you have the chance to otherwise.Fabricwise, black and white is lovely, although I was thinking more along the lines of black and white zigzag, perhaps like this - http://www.fabricguru.com/cart/index.php?target=products&product_id=158332 (that's a cotton, but you would probably want some kind of silk or satin, maybe).

Do you know anyone who has been to this gala or anyone is who going to this year's event?? You could ask around to find out what other women are planning to wear... I think that vogue gown is a bit much and not very flattering. Try looking at some patterns from the 30's, they really seemed to know how to dress up in an elegant way! :) Either way... I look forward to seeing what you select and what you look like wearing it! :)

Hi, if you're afraid you'll be the only one in long gown you can choose a short dress and give it a more elegant appeal with accessories like faux furs and long gloves, an important necklace and then evalute the level of the evening and in case take off some pieces,what do you think?

I'd look at photos of past events. Given that 1) this is black tie, not white tie, and 2) there will be no dancing, I'd nix the ballgown. Aim for something that is a step above the LBD and a step below an all out ball gown.

i actually made a dress that was very similar to the vogue pattern... and i wore it to a black tie wedding over the summer. i used simplicity 1617 (http://vintagepatterns.wikia.com/wiki/Simplicity_1617_A), sewed with black dupioni silk with a blue dupioni sash (that matched my blue shoes, of course). i also sewed a black horsehair crinoline to make it poofy, and cut the thing to hit about knee-length.

i say go for the vogue pattern! as long as you use a more special fabric - lace would be amazing, or dupioni silk - it would pass for fancy. the dowdy factor can be toned down by shortening the skirt, removing the undercollar, adding a crinoline, etc.

People mostly seem to go the other way today and its such a shame that not only do we underdress in our daily lives now but that lethargy has extended to events which used to be a great excuse to get all dolled up!

Back when I was married to DH#1, I accompanied him to many, many black tie events. This, of course, was in the early 90's, so very dated info. I saw a gazillion women in black - often with sequins and glitter on their dresses. Many of the dresses were long and featured bare arms, shoulders, decolletage. If the dress was short, it was usually very short and a little more covereed up on top.That said, there were always the colorful gowns, too. Back then, they were jewel tones. Red, royal blue. And they looked lovely, as well. They stood out a little more.Personally, I think your red lace dress would be fab. But maybe you want this excuse to wear long? Then go for it! But, this is just me, I would not do a long full skirt. A little too Cinderella.I know that whatever you choose will be fab!

I would do a 40s evening gown over a 50s. 50s gowns are generally "princess poofy", while the 40s and even 30s ones are slim fitting, usually satin or crepe and could very easily be modern especially if done in dark tones.

The event is at MoMA, not the Costume Institute--so it calls for something sleeker and more modern. And no matter what you do that vintage Vogue gown, it will never look modern. Well, maybe if you take off the floppy collars altogether and add some cut-outs in the bodice or something. But why bother? I agree with others--don't waste your time and energy on a pattern you're not 100 percent in love with. Especially for this event!

I definitely agree with your readers that say go all out!! It is at MoMA, after all. I would think even if you're the only one in a ballgown ( and I doubt that would happen), you'd be praised for individually, esp. after everyone leans you made your dress!

The majority of the female guests at the black tie benefits I've been to (which has only been a few in Charlotte NC - not NY) are in long dresses that are more fitted. You do see a few people in ballgowns in non-bridesmaid colors and they didn't stand out as being over dressed to me. The women in short, plain, black cocktail dress kind of looked underdressed a bit. If you do decide to go with a shorter length, I'd definitely add extra vintage details to give it more "oomph". Hope that helps!

Gertie, that dress reminded me of one that I have had, so I just posted some pix for you to look at. It's black silk organza, knee length, with some lace appliques on the collar. What really helps the collar is that the 2 layers are about the same length, and on the longer side. Well, you can see for yourself those details, but I thought at least I would share them with you, so you can get an idea what the dress might look like in its 'LBD' form.flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/39426423@N02/?saved=1

Ooo, ooo! You should make a cocktail dress with a full detachable overskirt (y'know, like those Barbie dresses!) that way if you show up and the overskirt is too much, a quick dash to the bathroom and---voila! Cocktail dress!

Or, y'know, not. ;)

I'd be leaning on the go-over-the-top side... c'mon, how often do you get to *really* dress up like that? (well, for me anyway, never). Like lots of others, I think the Vogue ballgown would be ok if you skipped the bottom collar and just had the shorter upper bit (or even did a completely different collar). And houndstooth would be seriously fun.

Have you looked at the photos of eveing gowns on the Couture Allure Vintage Fashion blog? She's been running a series with gown from each decade.

I think the Glinda dress is out, due to the princess poofiness of the full skirt.

As a pear-shaped person, I always worry about what to wear that is elegant and slinky but flattering to my big ol' butt. The full skirt is my friend, but here are my personal not-poofy dream dress options. McCall 3753 Butterick 4611 Simplicity 2877

I think all three would suit your shape and look fantastic with your ink!

I like the detachable collar idea! I like the collar myself, but the dress might be more usable in the long run if you could take the collar off.

I definitely tend toward dowdy myself, but that one is too much even for me. The skirt is boring, and there's too much of it. It either needs to be shorter, or it needs trim to break it up and keep it from looking like the designer was in a hurry and didn't finish the design. Even a row of horizontal tucks would help. Anything. Would this dress be a good candidate for lace overlay? It needs detail desperately.

I say go all-out if you want, but I also agree with whoever said on here, "Don't sew what you don't love."

You could tack the dress up at the front, asymmetrically, a la Bonnie Cashin design. I have to say, I don't love that ball gown. But if you "modernize" it, it could make a great impact. I can see why the houndstooth is appealing to you...

A few practical considerationsfor a dress-how far/long will you have to travel? Would you have to try to stuff a ball gown skirt into a dirty taxi? Would it be comfortable to sit in for the duration of the evening? What will the weather be like? Will you have to wear a heavy coat or boots?

An event at MoMA is definitely a tricky one. That sort of crowd could go either way. I still have to vote for a ballgown though. How often do you have a chance to wear one? I'd kill for the opportunity ;) However, I have to agree with a lot of these other ladies about this particular dress. I'm not exactly in love with it. I think you could find something more flattering and elegant. Good luck either way, and have fun!

Gertie, I've been to a bunch of new media award dinners (for my sins) and I can guarantee that ball gowns are not what people will be wearing. Floor-length, yes, but slim -- you know, more like what you can buy in a nice department store, not a wedding boutique. I'd wear the red lace.

I agree though with the idea to muslin the dress to see how it really looks, especially since you are considering it, and I applaud the idea to return to VonBBS.

Goodness, a lot of opinions about this one! Mind if I add mine?: I think your red dress would be entirely appropriate for this event. However, I say make the VoNBBS pattern b/c it may be a looooong time before you need a ball gown again.

To make it more modern and wearable, could you make the pattern, but drop both the collars so that the gown has a simple V neckline?

Looking at the photo of the dress, it looks like the dress doesn't fit the model in the shoulders. In the drawings, the neckline is almost off shoulder. The photo shows it cutting through her collarbone. It also looks like the skirt has an overlay of a different, sheer material and, to me, doesn't work well.

If you do make this, I fully support making the shawl portion of the neckline removable, allowing you to play around with depth and materials until you have something a bit more 'you'.

I could see this in a vibrant, jewel tone under layer with neutral lace over it: perhaps sapphire blue with black or white, beaded lace? And a short, tight sleeve that is mostly/fully hidden under the shawl depth when the shawl is on, and creates some balance visually when the shawl is removed.

i vote full dress, but consider something a little sleeker than an all out ball gown. go with any color you want, and just rock it. yes, there are probably going to be 800 LBDs and sky high stilettos, BUT you need not look like them to be fabulous.

skip the one in the book and find a vintage pattern you *really* love.

My interpretation of black tie is 'it is impossible to overdress for this event unless you show up in princess Di's wedding gown'. Even if you are overdressed, I think it's a venue where people would find that fabulous, not strange.

I would take the opportunity to make something absolutely ridiculous that you adore because you aren't going to get many chances to flaunt something like that in the flesh. If the vogue dress doesn't tickle your fancy, find something that does.

If you made the Vogue up in something like a dark taffeta, played about with that neckline a bit and added a glitzy brooch then you'd have something not a million miles away from the All About Eve dress. It has sleeves certainly, but you'd be along those lines. I think I'd be tempted to make it up with a circle or near circle skirt rather than the gathers.

Google pictures from MMoA galas, as they host many black-tie affairs. This will give you a good idea on the lay-of- the land. I live in NJ and attend at least one black-tie affair a year in the NY area. Sadly, I think the whole black-tie concept has been dressed down. Now, many women are wearing short cocktail dresses and the men dark suits, not the glam gowns, long dresses and tux’s of years ago.

I think there are two conflicting impulses here: 1) figuring out what would be appropriate attire for this gala, and 2) finding a place to wear the VNBBS dress.

I agree with those who have said that black tie should be fancier than cocktail dresses, but less fancy than white tie ball gowns. There are black tie events that lean toward white tie, such as proms, but this seems like one that leans toward cocktail dresses. I think that the VNBBS dress is more appropriate for a ball, or the MoMA costume institute gala. I think this event would call for a long slim dress, or a twist on a ball gown that makes it a little less formal. You could wear the red lace dress, the red sheath dress, or the wiggle dress with the overskirt, but I feel this is an opportunity to make something more formal than you would normally wear elsewhere.

It seems that this is not the place to wear the VNBBS dress, but the next question is whether you even want to make the dress the way it is in the pattern. I agree that it's kind of dowdy in the pictures, but that could be alleviated to a certain extent by fabric choice, but more significantly by playing fast and loose with the pattern and what you consider "making this dress" to mean.

The ball gown may be a little much unless you modernize it a bit. I have a hard time picturing it in houndstooth but I do love the idea. I think for black tie, if you go for a big full skirt it should be tea-length, and if you want floor length it should be a slimmer skirt.

If you decide to make this dress, I think that you could make is NOT dowdy by using a sheer fabric which is underlined for the body of the dress, but not for the collar. (maybe use chiffon or crepe or something.)

But I agree, that for a non-dancing event where people might under-dress, go long, but a sleeker skirt than this one. I say, if you ever find yourslef overdressed, then work it, dont hide! let everyone else wish they dressed up more too.

I acutally really like the ball gown from the Vogue book, but perhaps not for this event. I think people would wear ballgowns to an event celebrating Monet, or old Masters painters, but digital media sounds much hipper. I am of the belief that black tie means long gown, even though many people wear shorter dresses to these events. To me, cocktail attire means a shorter, party dress. I think you should go in a long elegant dress, but perhaps not too poufy/1950s. Because there is no dancing, you don't have to make a dress that has a high twirl factor. Go for one that you can sit down in comfortably, and I would go for your signature color, red!

Color me green with envy I haven't been to much you couldn't wear jeans to in years. Oh well. I'm not a fan of the vogue dress but I'm sure you could make it look great. I would think you could wear the lace one but I'm hardly an expert. You could do the Vogue one and then if you just can't stand it wear the red one. Or you could search Etsy for vintage patterns.

I love the idea of this dress in houndstooth as well, because the gathers at the waist will serve to add folds to the houndstooth, and that's going to add interest to the pattern. I think using any kind of suiting is a great spin to put on this silhouette which I'm definitely not automatically drawn to, but can see many flattering aspects when pondering it. I will say that if you go with a smaller houndstooth, it will more than likely read as a solid instead of a print anyway. Might it be fun to go with a smaller houndstooth for the body, and a bolder houndstooth for the collar? That would be fun..

I love the idea of this in a vertical stripe as well, it would add a little Tim Burton to the mix.

Please, it is the world-famous MoMa. Assuming that it will be some sort of Gala, then do NOT go for the LBD or the Cocktail dress (these are safe, but usually a bit lazy options). I am sure you can do better, and it will be exciting to follow you on your blog. :-)As for the Glenda the good witch dress - well, with a few changes you actually might make it look fabulous.

I think if you decide to do the glenda dress, you should definitely lose the double shawl collar. It would be so great in houndstooth with the fuchsia underskirt, especially if you shortened it.

However, if you're keen on doing a full length or ballgown type dress, make one you love! I don't think you have to worry about being so overdressed that people are whispering about you behind your back or anything. There's going to be a wide fanciness range there. :-)

Good luck and I can't wait to see what you come up with for the event!

Gertie, you wore red short shorts and a gingham shirt hiking at a national park; I guarantee you the hikers were more judgmental about your appearance than any black tie crowd at MoMa is ever going to be.

If you don't like the Vogue gown, but do want to wear a gown, as a GNBBS regular, I would feel totally satisfied if you substituted another vintage gown more to your liking for that one. I would say that counted as one of the fourteen. (FWIW, I also think you should farm out the little girls pattern to a fellow vintage sewing blogger who has a little girl/likes to sew children's clothes and let them do a guest post about it, but that's off topic and just IMHO since you seem to be putting it off).

If you don't want to do a gown for the event, then do whatever you want. We all love you no matter what and you will look fabulous.

I would, however, like to point out that when you did the survey about whether to make the full length gown or shorten it, that sometime during your VONBBS project, you would be invited to an event appropriate for it. Just call me Nostradamus.

I also vote for the shorter length. As for colours, it might actually look cute in black, with the undercollar in a bright colour (I'm thinking fuchsia) for a bit of fun. I'd also suggest scaling back the undercollar, perhaps to an inch or so.

This being a Moma event, it's the perfect time to wear whatever you please.

I think this might be the best time to sew this gown.. for some shameless self promotion. Its a good PR move. It might not be your favorite pattern, but it has THE BEST story to go with the dress, the story of your blog and your sewing adventures (and with a book deal and the popularity of your blog, you are in prime position to make some new admirers).

I think this pattern will make the PERFECT talking point for the evening. Make the dress up in a funky or refreshingly modern fabric, and folks will stop and ask about your dress. Then you tell them you made it, and the conversation opens for you talk about your Vogue's New Book for Better Sewing project. You will certainly be an unforgettable guest, the kind of person everyone wants to talk to at a gala!

Just think, as people are walking out of the gala, they will be saying "meh, just another party, I could have stayed home and wathced reruns... but did you talk to that lovely woman Gertie, she made the event worth attending!"

GertieThink Suzy Perette! Vogue Pattern V1094 has a great option for an intersting collar. I made this dress in a full length copper tone...dancing was included for this Black Tie event. I would make the dress length 3/4.

You need to follow the advice of the other poster who said do the vintage vogue dress like Sabrina's with the black and ivory. Anyone who advises a cocktail dress does not understand the significance of the event. I think scoffing at a full length gathered skirt is pretty funny to a retro fashionista. You wear crinolines, albeit small ones! And a tea length dress is less formal, not more formal than a cocktail dress. I personally find the original dress in the book to be pretty cool. I think it would be elegant, not dowdy, made in the black and ivory. I am just a couple years older than you if you think that is affecting my taste.

Is anyone besides me thinking that the perfect balance between a big ol' evening gown and a cocktail dress is the evening length 60s sheath gown? Always elegant and can be dolled up or down depending on fabric choices.http://www.rubylane.com/item/597169-RL-poppy60/Vintage-60s-Pink-Gold-Metallic

I vote for Carlotta's idea of the Sabrina dress, but a shorter version. I think with the collar AND the gathered full length skirt it'll feel like a LOT of fabric. Another idea, what about making the collar detachable? Then you could get it all put together and decide toward the end. Or add some little sleeves and turn it into a jacket? Or make it out of fur and it's a shawl! Also, I usually think 'black tie' means more in terms of fabric choices than length. The fancier the better! No matter what you decide, you'll look amazing. You always do!

If there's no dancing I wouldn't go for a ball gown, but as it is officially labled black tie I'd go for a long(er) dress with a sleeker silouhette to live up to the cocktail hour + following events. So basically I'd vote against the books dress.

And also I don't think a long dress or a little more colour would make you overdressed. Having googled the event I rather found quite a few ladies not dressed up quite appropiate for the event. But that's just my $0.02.

Anyway, with this current cold looking at the MoMA pics was really dangerous. My son came up and on seeing one asked "Mommy, won't you make yourself such a nice shiny nighty????" I nearly died laughing.Wish you as much fun making your dress and I'm sure it will as always be stunning!

Ok, I'm going to stick my nose back in and give another 2 cents and be really blunt.

DON'T LISTEN to all the people telling you to do a shorter length dress. Tea-length or cocktail length is for afternoon tea or cocktail parties, not galas!

Whatever style you decide to go with, make it floor-length. I think you'll really regret the missed opportunity to do it up right if you don't (or at least I know I would, lol).

And as another commenter mentioned, it will be a perfect opportunity for self-promotion. At last year's Garrison Ball I couldn't move 5 feet without someone stopping me to ask about my dress, and ask if I had a card after I told them I made it! I was pretty much the sartorial star of the evening, and how can that not make you feel great? Not to mention my fiancee was glowing with even more pride than usual to have me on his arm! It was a fantastic evening - and the food was ok too ;oP

So I can say from personal experience that it is SO worth it to go all out! If you'd like to see what I did, as an example of what a real person who sews has worn to such an event, I can email you picture.

I go to some formal events and dress folks for formal events, although it is here locally, but I think if you want to see what they're really wearing, you can check out W, Vogue or any of those fashion mags, in the "View" or report on what the swells are doing.

That said, I think just about anything is worn - of course not jeans (yet), but something attractive and beautiful. The one word of warning I have (and I use this with my clients) is to keep the dress from being too full, cause at the table there is little room and a full skirt has more of an opportunity to get tangled in the legs of chairs, either yours or your dining neighbors. But full skirts were a huge part of the style of the 50's (as a means of revolting against the slim, sparse styles of WWII), that it will be hard not to make something with a luxuriously full skirt.

I think this sounds like a wonderful opportunity to make something you LOVE. At the same time, you can showcase your dressmaking. Don't make the Vogue dress just because it's a ball gown. Save that for another time.

I love how the yellow dress made you look just stunning and you weren't making it to wear to a couture exhibit, you were wearing it there to make the dress debut more special.

You're not trying to blend or be just like everyone else and "tone it down" you still have your fabulous style and expert skills to show off no matter the locale. Wow them.

Hi thereAs far as I know, black tie means long dress for the lady. If the black tie event is in the afternoon, you can wear a short dress.White tie would be going all the way out. With the big jewlery, fur, tiara etc. Like supersuperprincessglamourous.But I think that these dress codes aren't really interpreted so strictly anymore.I personally wouldn't miss the chance to wear a long dress. They're just classy. But maybe if there will be no dancing, I wouldn't do a too full dress.And I agree with everybody else, if you don't love the pattern, don't do it for that event. Wear something you're excited about!Have fun!

Maybe try tea length - would go if women were in gowns or cocktail length dresses. I would deff go with a standout fabric idea or even you lace with underlay you have been working on...few more ideas for you

I vote red lace dress, too! You are going to look gorgeous in it. The last thing you want to do is feel self conscious, which is why I'd forgo the long dress if you aren't sold on the design. You can always make it at a later date.

I think it has potential. The sleeves are the worst part. You could exchanged them for something dowdy you could convert the given sleeve pattern into a velvet or faux fur capelet (matching lining?). That might be really fun.

I think evening black tie means that a long sleek dress would be perfectly appropriate and in the right colour could be stunning. I've just muslined dress 2 of the 1930s list in Gaidig's post for a slightly different even. The bodice front is a bit of a disaster (halter and back are really good) but the skirt (I cut it on the bias) is just so very glamorous and flattering. So I would suggest something very much along those lines

Black tie means floor length, if a gala. Cocktail dresses pass muster, but everyone will be jealous of your long dress. To be modern, less volume gets you out feeling self-conscious. A silk chiffon/crepe column in a muted color with a lovely lining, over flats (who cares, no one can see your feet because -), hemmed so you've a half inch of pooling on the floor about your feet. Then you won't be one of the giant crowd in black, you will be elegant, and you will be comfortable. A soft warm wrap for the shoulders if it's chilly, and check your coat. Or you could do the Carolina Herrera Floral-Jacquard Ball Gown [Bergdorf's] and wear Jackie-O sunglasses, and pretend you speak no English. Easier to do more like the Gaultier "chain trim gown" at http://www.polyvore.com/chain-trim_gown/thing?id=24936486#1291419088003 which achieves looking black-tie but relaxed: read, not overdressed. Maybe Vogue 9768 Retro 90's maxi length, but not in a pattern, oof. Or, McCALL 6686 gown in a quiet color. Also love BUTTERICK 2488, 60's gown, in the slimmer style.